Tape-measuring device.



No. 650,389. Patented May 29, I900.

. C. B. HATFIELD.

TAPE MEASURING DEVICE.

(Apfzlication filed June as, 1899.) (No Model.) I

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UNITED STATES- P TENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. HATFIELD, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR TWO-TI-IIRDS To DAVID H. MeooNNELL AND ARTHUR S. I-IOYT, on

NEW YORK, N. Y.

TAPE-MEASURING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,389, dated. May 29, 1906.

Application filed June 28,1899. Serial No. 7 2,107. (No model.)

To all whom it may concerns Be it known that I, CHARLES B. HATFIELD, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tape-Measuring Devices, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a s ecification.

he present invention relates to measures, and more particularly-to that class of flexible measures used for obtaining circumferential measurements of soft or yielding objects,- such as the hu' man foot or body.

The object of my invention is to provide such flexible measures with a tension-indicating device which shall indicate to the operator when a certain predetermined tension has been applied to the measure, and thus enable him or others to make the various measurements under the same amount of tension.

To the above end my invention consists in the devices and combinations hereinafter described, and more particularly set forth in the claims.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved tape measure in operation, the proper amount of tension having been applied. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the straining clip or plate. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are modifications of the same. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are sectional views of the modified forms, and Fig. 9 is a Sectional view of the tension device in its normal or retracted position.

In my improved tape-measure a graduated measure 1, which may be of any suitable flexible material and of any desired dimensions, is provided at one end, preferably the initial end, with a clip or plate 2. This may be attached by passing the end of the measure 1 through the closed slot 3 in the plate 2 and turning it back upon itself and securing it thereto by stitches or in anyother suitable manner. The plate 2 is provided with an open slot 4, the side farthest from the slot 3 being perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said plate. This slot is so positionedwith regard to the connection of said plate with the measure out the need of correction.

side of the slot 4 may be provided with a that its perpendicular side will form the ini- 5o tial point of the graduated measure, and thus allow the operator to read the measure directly Where it passes through said slot with- If preferred, this roller-bearing surface consisting of a roller 5, rotatably mountedupon a pin 7, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6,- in order that the Whole tension applied may be effective in drawing the. measure around the object to be measured. A simpler construction is shown in Figs. 4, 5, 7, and 8, where a rounded bearing-surface on one or both sides is depicted.

While not limiting myself to any particular form or shape of straining-plate, I prefer to so construct it that it may be readily grasped and held by the hand of the operator, and in v the illustrated embodiment of my invention 7 I have shown a plate provided with a finger clip. To the other end of the measure 1 is secured the tension-indicator, which in the device of the drawings comprises a graduated tension-bar 8, casing 10, and spring 9. The bar 8 may be of any desired shape or di mensions, that of the drawings being rectan- 7 5 gular in cross-section, and said bar enters the casing 10, which is preferably of cylindrical shape, through a slot in one end of the casing of a shape corresponding to the bar. Secured to the inner end of said bar 8 is the spring 9, the other end of which is attached to the end of the casing 10. Any pull exerted upon the casing 10 will be transmitted through the spring 9 and bar 8 to the measure 1, the bar being drawn out through its slot a distance corresponding to the force applied. In order to avoid the necessity of the operator looking at the bar 8 of the tensionindicator to see if the proper amount of tension has been applied, I have provided the 0 bar 12 with an indicator-point, which in the form illustrated consists of a pin, which may pass through longitudinal slots 11 in the end of the casing 10. V g

I prefer to taper the end of the casing as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, providing rests for the thumb or finger of the operator, which rests enable the thumb or finger to be placed thumb or finger, much more accurate meas-.

. The end clip or plate 2 is held in the {left hand 'used 'inconnection with spring-tension-indiin the path of movement of the indicatorpoint 12 and to be engaged thereby when the bar is drawn out,-so-that by-the sense of touch" alone he may know that the measure is under the proper tension.

The operation of my device is as .follows:

of the operator, .whowith his rightpasses the measure 1 around the object to be measured and inserts it in the slot 4. Taking the tension device now in his right hand with his thumb on the thumb-rest, he draws uponthe tape until he feels the pin 12, when he reads the measure. By the use of my improvedirT dicator, which comes in contact with the urements will be made and in a less'timethan if the operator has to rely upon his eyes to read the tension-indicator and the tape-measurea at the same time.

I. am; aware that tape-measures have been arranged to pass-the thumb-rest and-contact with the thumb oi the operator and indicate the tension or pull applied to the flexible measure, substantially as described.

2. In a measuring device, the combination with a flexible graduated measure, of a tension-indicator attached 'toJo'ne end thereof,

said indicator -compr-ising a" casing to be grasped by the hand provided-with a bar yieldingly connectedtherewith, saidbar having indicator -points normally sustained within said casing and arranged to be withdrawn and to contact with the thumb or fin- "gi' of the operator to indicate the tension or pulliapplied to the flexible measure, substantiallyas described.

3. The combination with a flexible measure, of a plate secured to one end thereof, a slot in said plate to receive the-measure intermediate its'ends, a tension-indicator attached :to the other end of saidrmeasure, saidindicator comprising a casing to beygrasped by the hand, providedwith a barfyieldinglycon- .nected therewith, said bar having indicatorpoints normally sustained within sa-id casin g and arranged to be withdrawn and tocontact with the thumb or finger of theoperatorto indicate the pull or tension. applied to the flexible measure, substantially as described.

I In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this spec ification','inethe'presence of two subscribingwitnesses, on this 10th I day of June, A. D. "1899.

' CHARLES E. HATFIELD.

. fiVitnesses:

N. O. LOMBARD,

therewith provided -Wll l1'- an indicator-point CHARLES B. HATFIELD, J r. 

